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CHILLICOTHE — Not so long ago, Unioto ended its — arguably — best softball season in program history.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
A thrilling 6-2 win over Hillsboro gave the Shermans their first district title since 1995 before they clinched their first-ever Elite 8 appearance with a 4-3 victory over Indian Valley.
Their offense was well-profiled, their defense was as solid as rock and, undeniably, they played for each other.
But seemingly lost in the shuffle was pitcher Hannah Hull, who spent her entire junior season at the center of the team’s victorious storm.
Hull’s numbers speak for themselves.
She led the Scioto Valley Conference with 23 victories and sported a 2.62 ERA alongside 133 strikeouts. Put simply, when Unioto needed an out the most, Hull brought her best stuff.
Still, she often wasn’t drawing headlines. Instead, her power-hitting teammates — and deservingly so — mopped most of those up.
Hitting is flashy. Pitching can sometimes be mundane … especially when you mow down opponents like Hull did. But she never cared. Hull continued to chug along, doing what she needed to do to help her teammates rack up victories. And it paid off in a big way.
“I have never been a person to compare myself or my stats to others. I never take notice of where other players are talked about and praised more than I am,” Hull said. “A big motivator I used this season was not letting my team down. I knew I had a job to do and I didn’t want to let anyone, especially my team, down. I also learned that I needed to bet on myself. I held myself to a high standard and I knew that I wanted to help my team do something we haven’t done before. I will always believe in that and I took that onto the field and into the circle every game.”
That bet turned out to be a sure wager. But it doesn’t mean Hull didn’t wade through murky waters.
There were multiple times where she found herself in trouble. And with ducks on the pond and the opposition looking to score, she worked her way out of most scoring threats.
“A big part of my success was my ability to tune everything out,” Hull said. “Since I was young, my parents drilled into my brain that being mentally strong is something that will set me apart from others … not letting a hit, pitch, or home run get into my head and tear me down mentally throughout the game. I like to think that I am very headstrong in the circle. I’ve learned to be a goldfish. I forget whatever just happened and I’m onto the next. The past is the past and there’s nothing you can do to change it. No matter what was going on or being said, I just had to believe in myself. I knew I could get my job done and rely on my team to back me up.”
Her parents drilled her mentality into her brain, and just in case she forgets, her dad is in the dugout waiting to remind her.
Rob Hull, who took over the Unioto softball post in 2019, has put the program back on the map. In his five seasons, he’s compiled an 81-24 coaching mark alongside two sectional titles and a district championship.
But when Hannah joined the program in 2021, being a coach and being a dad — at the same time — was a difficult task. Since, Hannah and Rob have worked together on, and off, the field to iron out the wrinkles.
“Comparing this past year to my freshman year, it’s a completely different atmosphere. Trying to differentiate myself from his player and his daughter was definitely a struggle at first,” Hannah said. “Whether it was us arguing in the locker room about my attitude or me asking what’s for dinner in the middle of practice, it was definitely a struggle my freshman year. Coming into my junior year, my dad and I were both able to differentiate who we were supposed to be and when. We had the game figured out. It can be a struggle and it will always be difficult. But we, more so I, have come such a long way and either way, I wouldn’t want to be playing for any other coach.”
Both Hannah and Rob frequently wore smiles this spring. The Shermans finished 24-4 overall and had more than enough to celebrate when it was all said and done.
But victories weren’t the only thing that produced lifelong memories. Hannah’s love for the game did that in itself.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
“The love I have for softball is something I don’t think I can ever truly put into words. Coming into my junior season, I questioned my love for the game but once it started, I realized why I fell in love with the game so many years ago,” Hull said. “The team I was surrounded by reminded me of why I love it every day and why I choose to play every year. One thing that I’m most proud of is our team chemistry. When we compare our chemistry, as a team, to past years, it’s a completely different ball game. We really came together, whether it was off the field or on the field. We all knew that we really had something special as a team and we had something to prove this year. “
And now, Unioto has a chance to replicate what they had.
The Shermans lose one senior from this past spring’s roster and return their entire starting lineup. That’s a fair warning to their opponents … both during the regular season and in tournament play.
There’s business to attend to and, led by Hull, making another deep tournament run is the goal. As a matter of fact, playing in Akron at the state tournament is the goal.
“Next year is going to be our strongest year. Nearly every returner will be a senior and we have some strong incoming freshmen that will help us,” Hull said. “Getting to the regional final again won’t be easy. But with how we proved ourselves this past season, we’re more than capable. The biggest thing I believe will get us over the hump is our determination and confidence we have; for ourselves and each other. We have to focus on what we’re able to achieve and push ourselves every practice and game. We will be a force to be reckoned with. This postseason, we showed everyone who we can be. So this upcoming spring, we are coming for the regional title.”
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